I feel like I am on a constant roller coaster of severe ups and downs. I understand that is bipolar - but with meds and therapy does anyone have perionds of calm? I seem to be going from hypomanic to depression almost non-stop!

From what I understand, if you get the right meds and amounts, therapy and support, it will get better. It got better for my wife, before she relapsed.

The question is, do YOU want it to stop? If you can make the commitment, there shouldn't be a problem. It will be tough at times, but there are quite a few regular posters here who are BP I (the severe kind) and make it work through medication, discipline and hope.

It will take time and that is the hard part. It's a tedious process of increments. The doc prescribing meds and slight changes, you noting the results, and returning to him with those results and adjustments. Then over and over, until you find a good mix.

I find that to be the dangerous/hard part. The time it takes to get properly medicated and trying to keep it together between appts.

Note: I am speaking from the point of view of a spouse married to a BP II. I am not diagnosed with BP.

It comes, with time and patience. Staying on your medication and seeing your therapist is most important, but you can do some stuff, too.

-You need to de-dramatize your life. If your life is full of people who are making you crazy, you need to get them out of your life.

-If your house is chaotic, you have to establish some order (that doesn't mean it has to be spotless, just orderly enough so you can find things easily and can put them in their place easily, too).

-You have to establish a regular sleep schedule, as well as a proper routine for eating, etc. I'm not talking about running your life by a stopwatch, just establish some routines that will help you lead a more peaceful life.

-You might also create a mood chart to help you track your mood swings, which will help you figure out what your triggers are. You can find these online.

-Also, watch your diet. There are loads of pages here in HW that talk about food and mood, so look those over.

-Set little goals for yourself, so you have a feeling of accomplishment every day. It doesn't have to be anything huge. For example, you may make a note to call your doctor today and make that your goal, or you may make vacuuming the living room your goal for the day. Or to take a 30 minute walk. Anything that you need to do that will give you a feeling of accomplishment once it's done.

-And remember, you are responsible for your own recovery, so take care of yourself. Do more things you enjoy, for example: take bubble baths, if that's what you like; if you love to read, make sure you set aside time for that every day... Make sure you give yourself a little time everyday for something you enjoy.

Well, this is all stuff that I have done at various times during my 20-so-far-years of recovery. I hope there is something here you can use!"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."Phil. 1:3Gladys

I am not a doctor, but I just wanted to point out that BPI is no more or less severe than BPII. In layman's terms, the difference is that BPI has more and longer periods of mania than BPII. BPII has more and longer periods of depression. A BPI will experience full-out mania, where a BPII will experience hypomania. BP II's depressions are more profound and lengthier, where BPI will go into a mild or moderate depression and possibly come out of it sooner."I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."Phil. 1:3Gladys

I was diagnosed about 2 years ago. My boyfriend constantly reminds me that there is no instant fix, that it will take time to get things under control. EbonyKnight - I apreciate your insite. I know my soon to be husband is amazingly understanding in helping me through things the past several years.

Unfortunaly even before being diagnosed I have had problems with side effects of medications so there's been alot of med changes. Just as it feels like things are getting better I have another episode, but I am starting to be more aware of my triggers.

I am a strong believer in less is more. I can and freeze alot of my own food, buy organic foods, wasn't a fan of taking any medications prescribed or OTC, etc. SO knowing I have to take so many meds has been a bit of a chalenge. I realy want to manage this as much as I can in other ways. I feel better now just knowing that there are things I do myself

I am very new here, but I keep asking myself the same thing. I am far from 2 yrs in WITH diagnosis however I knew it was there I just never would be completely honest about my thoughts and actions afraid id be hospitalized. and honestly until it became Massively destructive I liked the ups. I was told by a friend who has been dealing for years to really be diligent about the mood journel which has helped her tremendously to deal with the disease and head off problems early. I have been keeping one and already have noticed a few things that swing my moods quickly. I avoid when possible and take klonipin when its not...if I know in advance anyway. I would like to get off the ride myself, so I hear you loud and clear. And my advice is no different than that you've seen but identify I do identify.~ NORMAL...Is there really such a thing? ~

I have also been using Klonipin to help with the mood swings. For me it works much better than Seroquil. I sometimes miss the highs but can't handle the lows as well as I did before my diagnosis. So I'll be glad to feel "normal" the majority of the time. Is kinda ironic that one of my favorite lines years go was that - Normal is borring.

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"Grant me the serentity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference"